St. Baldrick's update

Monday

Apr 1, 2013 at 1:00 PM

“These are exciting times to be bald!” said Anastasia Mathews, coordinator of the Third Annual St. Baldrick’s event scheduled to take place on Friday, April 5. She, alongside her brother, Stephen Mathews, will have her head shaved (for the third time in her young life) to raise money and awareness for children with cancer.

By Jenny Mathews

“These are exciting times to be bald!” said Anastasia Mathews, coordinator of the Third Annual St. Baldrick’s event scheduled to take place on Friday, April 5. She, alongside her brother, Stephen Mathews, will have her head shaved (for the third time in her young life) to raise money and awareness for children with cancer.

The last two years' events have been very successful because of some really amazing people! This year is no exception. Already, the “shavees” of this event have raised $7,605. So far there are 56 people signed up to be shavees, which is more than double the number since the first year (2011). There are seven teams formed. Some really fun dynamics are involved in this event.

This year, a husband and wife are each team captains for their own teams. Tina Fraker’s team, Crowley County Correctional Facility, has raised $2,250 to date. Her husband, Vincent Fraker, is the team captain for the LJ Police Dept. (even another reason to thank our local police), and his team has raised $1,385. Tina’s team is scheduled to be the first “satellite site” of this event. Team members will be shaved at the correctional facility on Tuesday, April 2.

Dr. Jason Morgenson is returning as a third time shavee this year. There was a chance he wasn’t going to be in town for this year’s event, and what a great surprise it was to see his name on the list of shavees!

Another highlight is the Lewis Bolt and Nut team, which has raised $1,450. This is the second year Joe Ayala has headed up this team. You should take the time to look at the team picture taken last year, now posted on their St. Baldrick’s page for this year. Thank you, Joe and the Lewis Nut and Bolt team.

Anastasia wishes to thank everyone who is participating in this event and everyone who has made a donation to a shavee.

If you would like to check out the other teams and shavees, go to StBaldricks.org. If you would like more information or would like to make a food donation for this event, call 384-8084 and leave a message for Anastasia.

What: Third Annual St. Baldrick's EventWhen: 6 p.m. FridayWhere: Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center, education rooms Come in the back of the hospital, emergency entrance road around the building.Why: Enjoy the fun of watching people get their heads shaved for a good cause.

A testimonial by Joe Ayala, whose goal was $1,000 but has already raised $1,275.

This is my second year doing St. Baldrick's, and I hope to make it one to remember. I have been growing my hair out since late July to get ready for this event. This hair drives me crazy at times but I hope it helps me to raise more money than I did last year. Childhood cancer is a problem that hits very close to home with me. When I was a child I lost a great friend to cancer. Sometimes we don't realize how precious life is and how special some people are. We hear about heroes all the time in comic books, cartoons and movies. As I got older I realized I grew up with a real-life hero in everything he did and all the strength he showed. We were so young but he was strong. I know that if he was here today he would be successful at whatever he chose to do because he was that kind of person. I wish there were more ways to fight his cancer back then, more options. My goal is to help raise money so kids like him all around the world get the chance to fight back against this disease and have a different outcome. You will always be my hero, Matt Nicklos, and I hope to inspire others the way you inspired me.